A corrugated sleeve comprising an upper panel forming the top of the sleeve, a lower panel forming the bottom of the sleeve, at least two height panels forming the front and back of the sleeve, respectively, and at least two side panels forming the left and right of the sleeve, respectively. The upper, lower, height, and side panels thereby form the external structure of the sleeve. The sleeve may also include at least one pack assembly which extends from one of the panels, and for example from the end height panel. Each pack assembly may include at least one pack divider, which can be positioned between adjacent thermal packs when such thermal packs are contained within the sleeve.
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1. A corrugated sleeve comprising:
an upper panel forming a top of the sleeve;
a lower panel forming a bottom of the sleeve;
at least two height panels forming a front and back of the sleeve, respectively;
at least two side panels forming a left and right of the sleeve, respectively, wherein said upper, lower, height, and side panels forming external structure of the sleeve;
at least one pack assembly extending from one of said panels, said at least one pack assembly comprising a middle pack assembly including a center pack cover having opposing sides, two pack dividers, wherein one pack divider extends from each of the opposing sides of the center pack cover, said pack dividers being positioned between adjacent thermal packs when such thermal packs are contained within the sleeve, and at least two center pack tabs, wherein one center pack tab extends from each pack divider in opposing directions.
10. A corrugated sleeve comprising:
an upper panel forming a top of the sleeve;
a lower panel forming a bottom of the sleeve;
at least two height panels forming a front and back of the sleeve, respectively;
at least two side panels forming a left and right of the sleeve, respectively, wherein said upper, lower, height, and side panels forming external structure of the sleeve;
at least one pack assembly extending from one of said panels, said at least one pack assembly including two end pack assemblies, each end pack including an end pack cover having opposing sides, wherein the end pack cover extends from the front height panel, a pack divider connected to one side of the end pack cover opposite the front height panel, said pack divider being positioned between adjacent thermal packs when such thermal packs are contained within the sleeve, and an end pack tab extending from the pack divider opposite the end pack cover, wherein at least one tab extends from said upper panel opposite the back height panel, wherein said at least one tab is sized to be received within a gap between said front height panel on one side and said pack divider and end pack tab on another side.
2. The corrugated sleeve of
said upper panel extends from a top side of said back height panel;
said lower panel extends from a bottom side of said back height panel;
said front height panel extends from a side of said lower panel opposite said back height panel;
said side panels extending from opposing left and right sides at least one of said upper and lower panels; and
wherein said at least one pack assembly extending from a side of said front height panel opposite said lower panel.
3. The corrugated sleeve of
4. The corrugated sleeve of
an end pack cover having opposing sides, wherein the end pack cover extends from the front height panel;
a pack divider connected to one side of the end pack cover opposite the front height panel; and
an end pack tab extending from the pack divider opposite the end pack cover.
5. The corrugated sleeve of
6. The corrugated sleeve of
8. The corrugated sleeve of
9. The corrugated sleeve of
11. The corrugated sleeve of
said upper panel extends from a top side of said back height panel;
said lower panel extends from a bottom side of said back height panel;
said front height panel extends from a side of said lower panel opposite said back height panel;
said side panels extending from opposing left and right sides at least one of said upper and lower panels; and
wherein said at least one pack assembly extending from a side of said front height panel opposite said lower panel.
12. The corrugated sleeve of
13. The corrugated sleeve of
a center pack cover having opposing sides;
two pack dividers, wherein one pack divider extends from each of the opposing sides of the center pack cover; and
at least two center pack tabs, wherein one center pack tab extends from each pack divider in opposing directions.
14. The corrugated sleeve of
16. The corrugated sleeve of
17. The corrugated sleeve of
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The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/192,041, filed Jul. 13, 2015 titled SECTIONED CORRUGATED SLEEVE FOR A BOX, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention generally relates to a sectioned corrugated sleeve for a box. More specifically, the present invention relates to a corrugated thermal pack sleeve with integrated sections for supporting one or more thermal packs within the sleeve during storage or shipment.
When shipping or storing certain products, it is often desirable to maintain certain temperatures within a box. Thermal packs, such as gel packs that can achieve and maintain a desired temperature for a period of time, are often inserted into boxes for shipping or storage. Prior art sleeves exist for retaining such thermal packs, and are often corrugated like the boxes in which they are designed to reside. Such prior art sleeves are generally constructed as standard rectangular boxes, and are taped shut. When frozen, thermal packs generally retain their shape and therefore remain properly positioned within prior art sleeves.
However, during shipment or storage, thermal packs may have sufficient time to thaw. Upon thawing, thermal packs may not be able to retain their shape. When positioned within a prior art sleeve, one or more thawed thermal packs may shift during shipment, or generally when being moved. Such shifting may cause multiple thermal packs to bunch at one area of the prior art sleeve, and may result in bulging or bending of the prior art sleeve. Additionally, shifting of the thermal packs may result in uneven temperatures within the box.
Therefore, a thermal pack sleeve design is needed.
In one embodiment a sectioned corrugated sleeve may include an upper panel forming the top of the sleeve, a lower panel forming the bottom of the sleeve, at least two height panels forming the front and back of the sleeve, respectively, and at least two side panels forming the left and right of the sleeve, respectively. The upper, lower, height, and side panels thereby form the external structure of the sleeve. The sleeve may also include at least one pack assembly which extends from one of the panels, and for example from the end height panel. Each pack assembly may include at least one pack divider, which can be positioned between adjacent thermal packs when such thermal packs are contained within the sleeve.
The upper panel may extend from a top side of said back height panel, and the lower panel may extend from a bottom side of said back height panel. The front height panel may extend from a side of said lower panel opposite said back height panel, and the side panel may extend from opposing left and right sides at least one of said upper and lower panels. At least one pack assembly may extend from a side of the front height panel opposite the lower panel.
In an example embodiment, the pack assembly may be a middle pack assembly that includes a center pack cover having opposing sides, two pack dividers with one extending from each of the opposing sides of the center pack cover, and at least one center pack tabs extending from each pack divider in opposing directions. Alternatively, the pack assembly may include two end pack assemblies. Each end pack assembly may include an end pack cover having opposing sides, and the end pack cover may extend from the front height panel. A pack divider may also extend from one side of the end pack cover opposite the front height panel, and an end pack tab may extend from the pack divider opposite the end pack cover. In another example embodiment, the corrugated sleeve of claim 1 wherein said at least one pack assembly includes two end pack assemblies and at least one middle pack assembly.
In some embodiments, at least one tab may extend from the upper panel opposite the back height panel. The tab may be sized to be received within a gap between the front height panel on one side and the pack divider and end pack tab the other side.
The number of pack assemblies may be [(N−1)/2], in an example embodiment, where N is the number of thermal packs housed by the corrugated sleeve, and N is an odd integer ≥3. In this embodiment, each pack assembly is a middle pack assembly. Alternatively, the number of pack assemblies may be [(N+1)/2], where N is the number of thermal packs housed by said corrugated sleeve, and N is an odd integer ≥3. In this embodiment, two of the N pack assemblies are end pack assemblies, and (N−2) of the pack assemblies are middle pack assemblies.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
In order to better maintain one or more thermal packs in place within the sleeve 1, sleeve 1 may include one or more pack assemblies. As illustrated in
Each end assembly 15 may also include a pack divider connected to one side of the respective pack cover: left pack divider 22 may extend toward the middle pack assembly 19 from left pack cover 16; and right pack divider 24 may extend toward the middle pack assembly 19 from right pack cover 18. The middle pack assembly may include two pack dividers 26 connected to opposing sides center pack cover 20 toward end pack assemblies 15. Further, a pack tab may further extend from each pack divider: left pack tab 28 may extend from left pack divider 22 toward the middle pack assembly 19; right pack tab 30 may extend from right pack divider 24 toward the middle pack assembly 19; and center pack tab 32 may extend from each center pack divider 26 in opposing directions toward each of the two end pack assemblies 15.
Left pack cover 16 may be connected to and extend from end height panel 8 at fold 34. Left pack divider 22 may extend from the left pack cover 16 at fold 36. Left pack tab 28 may extend from left pack divider 22 at fold 38. Similarly, right pack cover 18 may be connected to and extend from end height panel 8 at fold 40. Right pack divider 24 may extend from the right pack cover 18 at fold 42. Right pack tab 30 may extend from right pack divider 24 at fold 44. Center pack cover 20 may be connected to and extend from end height panel 8 at fold 46. Center pack dividers 26 may extend from the center pack cover 20 at folds 48 and 50. Center pack tabs 32 may extend from center pack dividers 26 at folds 52 and 54.
To form the sides of sleeve 1, the embodiment shown in
Similarly, lower side panels 64 may extend from opposing sides of lower panel 4 at folds 65, and one or more lower side tabs 66 may extend from each lower side panel 64 at folds 67. As shown in
Additionally, one or more reinforcement tabs 78 may extend from height panels 6 and 8. As shown, reinforcement tabs 78 extend from opposing sides of each of the height panels 6 and 8 at folds 80. It will be understood that such reinforcement tabs 78 are optional, and if present, may be larger or smaller than as illustrated in
At least one front tab 70 may extend from upper panel 2 at fold 71. At least one middle tab 72 may also extend from upper panel 2 at fold 73. As shown in
In order to fully close the sleeve 1, the upper panel 2 is folded overtop of the thermal packs 202. Front tabs 70 may be received within slots 74 (which may simply be formed as recesses between end height panel 8 and a thermal pad 202 along the fold 34 at specific locations), and middle tab 72 may be received within slot 76. Similarly, each upper side panels 56 may extend overtop of a respective lower side panel 64, and each upper side tab 58 may be received within a respective slot 68.
This structure may allow sleeve 1 to be secured in a closed configuration without the use of tape. Further, the pack assemblies 15 and 19 may both retain thermal packs 202 in place to prevent shifting, as well as provide general structural reinforcement to sleeve 1. Waterproof adhesives may be used with corrugated cardboard, as would be understood in the art, to help prevent damage to the sleeve 1 which could be caused by condensation forming on the thermal packs 202.
As was mentioned above and as will be understood, structures for more or fewer packs thermal packs are also envisioned. The structure for seven thermal packs described hereinabove includes two end pack assemblies and two middle pack assemblies. The structure for five thermal packs described hereinabove includes two end pack assemblies and one middle pack assembly. As a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand, a structure for three thermal packs may have substantially the same structure, but with two end pack assemblies and one middle pack assembly. Alternatively, one middle pack assembly and no end pack assemblies could be used. Similarly, a structure for nine thermal packs may have substantially the same structure, but with two end pack assemblies and three middle pack assemblies. Structures for larger numbers of thermal packs would follow a similar pattern.
As a non-limiting example, the number of pack assemblies may be [(N−1)/2] (where N is the number of thermal packs housed by the corrugated sleeve). In this case, N is an odd integer ≥3. Further, in this example scenario, each pack assembly would be a middle pack assembly. In another non-limiting example, the number of pack assemblies may be [(N+1)/2], where N is again the number of thermal packs housed by the corrugated sleeve, and N is an odd integer ≥3. In this second example scenario, two of the N pack assemblies would be end pack assemblies, and (N−2) of the pack assemblies would be middle pack assemblies.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel sectioned corrugated sleeve. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
Coleman, Jr., Casey E., Hasan, Mahmudul
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Jul 13 2016 | Lifoam Industries, LLC | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Feb 10 2017 | HASAN, MAHMUDUL | Lifoam Industries, LLC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 041532 | /0501 | |
Feb 20 2017 | COLEMAN, CASEY E , JR | Lifoam Industries, LLC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 041532 | /0501 | |
May 01 2019 | Jarden Zinc Products, LLC | CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 049122 | /0163 | |
May 01 2019 | Lifoam Industries, LLC | CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 049122 | /0163 | |
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May 01 2019 | ALLTRISTA PLASTICS LLC | CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 049122 | /0163 |
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